Valley soccer teams narrowing the gap

As recently as a couple of years ago, a Valley Tier 1 soccer versus a Halifax team game would more often than not have resulted in a win for the Metro side.

The Valley did win on occasion, but particularly in tournaments like the Gunn Baldursson, the lion's share of the Tier 1 gold medals seemed to go to teams from the more populated Halifax region.

Not anymore.

The Valley is now holding its end up admirably.

There are a couple of reasons for this. First, the Valley is taking its soccer a lot more seriously. Look no further than the registration for tournaments like the Baldursson or New Minas Invitational; and the diminishing numbers for other summer sports, such as baseball and softball.

The number of Valley youngsters playing on provincial soccer teams continues to rise; while Halifax, by virtue of its larger population, can still boast the most provincial team players, Valley representation on these teams has been growing.

The other factor fueling the growth of soccer in the Valley has been the opening of the indoor multisport facility in Kentville, which has turned soccer into a year-round sport. Combined with a greater number of elite players emerging from our area, Valley teams have become a lot more competitive, in a relatively short time.

Halifax is still Halifax, with a regional population of more than 300,000, but Valley teams now do win their fair share, both indoors in the fall and winter and outdoors in the spring and summer.

I followed the battle for NSSL supremacy between the Valley United and Bedford U-14 boys' teams in indoor play this past winter. After dropping a pair of close decisions to Bedford in regular season play, the Valley squad turned the tables in the playoffs, upsetting the favored Bedford team to capture the league championship.

The closely-contested rivalry between these two talented programs has continued in summer play: pretty much the same players make up the rosters of both teams. At last glance, Bedford led the U-14 boys' standings with a 11-0-1 record for 34 points, with Valley right behind at 9-0-3 for 30 points. Bedford had scored more goals, 58 to 54, but Valley had allowed just four goals to Bedford's five. The two teams had not met head-to-head yet this season. Those highly anticipated meetings are set for August 11 at Burnside and August 25 at 2 p.m. in New Minas. They should both be dandies.

The U-14 boys are not the only Valley Tier 1 team in the midst of a great season. After play on the July 21 and 22 weekend, the Valley U-16 boys sat in first place in their division with a 7-1-3 record. The team had scored 31 goals and allowed just seven.

After a slow start, the Valley U-18 girls were a close second in their division with a 7-2 record, and were in the midst of a six-game winning streak.

The other Valley Tier 1 teams, while their records aren't quite as impressive, have all shown themselves capable of playing with anyone in the league, their relative lack of success being due more to inconsistency than any other factor.

I continue to be impressed with the work that has gone into making Valley United a competitive program provincially, which is even more notable given most of it has been accomplished by volunteers. Facilities help, but the bottom line is success is due to equal portions of talent and hard work - both of which the Valley appears to have in growing abundance.